5 Ways Hemp Can Help The Environment

Industrial hemp has many practical uses and has been used for thousands of years. Read up on 5 ways that hemp helps the environment.

Hemp for nutrition

Of course there are many high protein alternatives, but hemp is one of the best proteins to eat. Unlike other proteins like soy and quinoa, hemp does not cause soil erosion or require synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides for a quality crop.

Hemp can grow up to 7000 seeds per plant, or on average, 756 pounds of seeds per acre—a much higher yield than many crops. Although hemp seeds have about 25-30% protein, the two main proteins in hemp, albumin and edestin, are easily digested compared to soybeans. Hemp seeds are already known as a valuable addition to a nutritional diet, being 35% fatty acids including Omega 3, 6, 9 and GLA, all 9 essential amino acids, and it contains antioxidants, fibre, iron, zinc and several vitamins. Additionally, hemp is also free of “oligosaccharides,” a carbohydrate found in proteins like whey that often causes gas and other upset stomach symptoms.

Hemp as a paper alternative

The world’s first paper was made of hemp around 140-87 BC in China. Somewhere along the way, we lost that knowledge and in 1945, turned to wood pulp instead. Trees only contain 30% cellulose, which means toxic chemicals have to be used to strip the wood pulp down, which is a major cause of water pollution. The paper and pulp industry accounts for about 4% of the world’s energy use, uses more water than any other industry and roughly 40% of all trash in landfills is paper. Meanwhile, one acre of hemp can produce as much paper as at least 4 acres of trees in one growing cycle. Pulping hemp requires less bleach than pulping wood because it is up to 70% cellulose. Additionally, hemp fibres also add longer life to recycled fibres.